Tiger Woods is on course to become the world's first sponsorship billionaire after yesterday's historic win at Augusta's National club.

The golfing star became the first person to have won four consecutive major championships when he took the US Masters yesterday.

Now media pundits are predicting he will be the first person to make $1bn (£650m) from advertising and sponsorship contracts.

Gene DeWitt of New York advertising agency Optimedia described Woods as "the next mega-property", adding: "He's got it all, he's an athlete and a charming man. People love him and that's the most important thing."

Woods already has a £65,000 contract with Nike, which signed him up back in 1996.

He also promotes Rolex watches, Titleist golf equipment and American Express and recently signed a £20m deal to appear in advertising for Buick cars in the US.

The golfer is even paid to talk about the company that did his corrective laser eye surgery.

Tiger Woods's youthful image and down-to-earth roots have helped transform the image of the sport, breaking down its crusty reputation and making it the sport of choice among trendy youngsters.

Woods's latest victory places him in the same class as all-time sporting greats Muhammed Ali and Michael Jordan.

Formula One racing drivers have traditionally been by far the highest-paid sports stars.

But the ever-increasing sums that even relatively unsuccessful stars such as tennis player Anna Kournikova can command through advertising and sponsorship make the amount of money earned through sport pale into insignificance.

American sports magazine ESPN recently estimated Woods would earn £4bn if he continued playing until the age of 65.

But the magazine said only £1bn of this would come from prize money, with the remaining £3bn earned through endorsements.